Road cleaner



A. c. ANDERSON ROAD cL June 9, 1925' Filed Dec- 2 1924 5 Sheet 1 A. C. ANDERSON june 9, i925.

" ROAD CLEANER Filed Dec. 1924 June 9, 1925. 1,541,310

A. c. ANDERSON ROAD CLEANER Filgd Dec. 25'. 1924 5 Sheets-Sheet :s'

gwwntoc June 9, 1925; 1,541,310

A. c. ANDERSON I ROAD CLEANER Filed Dec. 23. 1924 5 sheei's sheet 4 III/11441111111110 June 9, 1925.

A. C. ANDERSON ROAD CLEANER Filed Dec. 23, 1924 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Patented .lnne 9, 1925 eases-w o. Annnn's'oiv, on riAzAnn; NEBRASKA.

ROAD antenna.

Application filed December 23, 1924. Serial 1 \To. 'YEZF Q S.

To all whom it may concern: I

Be it known that L AND EW G. AlvnnnsoN; a citizen of the United fjltates residing at l-lazard in the county of Sherman and Stateot Nebraska, have invented new and useful Improvements in Road Cleaners, of which the tollowingis a specification;

This invention relates to a road cleaner.

The object of the invention is to improve the construction of road cleaners and to provide a simple, practical and ethcient ma; chine of strong, durable and comparatively inexpensive construction desi 'ned for cleaning the ditches at the sides oi a road and capable oi transferring the dirt removed from the ditches to the crown ot the road thereby enabling roads to be readily repaired and placed in proper condition for travel. I I i Anotherbbject of the invention is to enable the mechanism for cleaning the ditches and for carrying the earth from the ditches to the center of the road to be readily adjusted for raising and lowering the same into and out of operative position and for also adjusting such mechanism laterally of the machine to arrange it in proper position to suit theangle or inclination of the side of the road on which the machine is operated.

Another object of the invention is toenable the adjusting means and the means for guiding or steering the machine to be read ily controlled by an operator at the back of the machine. I I

With these and other objects in'vicw, the invention consists in the construction and novel combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter fully described illustrated in the accompanying drawings and pointed out in the claims hereto appended it being understood that various changes in the form, proportion and minor details of construction. within the scope of the claims, n'ray be resorted. to without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

In the drawings:

Figure l is a side elevation of a road cleaner constructed in accordance with this invention.

Fig. 2 is a plan view partly in section, the section being taken on line 2 5 Fig. 1.

Fi 3 is an enlarged lo itudinal section'zil view of the front portion er the road cleaner.

Fig. 4 a similar View through the rear portionot'tlie road cleaner. I

I Fig. 5 is a transverse sectional View taken suhstantially'on the line 5-5 of Fig. 2. c I I Fig. 6 is a detail transverse sectional view through one sideot the rear portion of the machine illustrating the construct-ion of the gearing for transmitting motion from the rear axle.

,Fig. is an enlarged detail sectiomilyiew illustrating the construction of the driving e s'.

Fig. 8 is a detail sectional view illustrating the clutch mechanism for connecting the rear wheels with the rear axle.

9 is a detail sectional View illustrating the arrangement of the gearing for transmitting motion from the longitudinal drive shaft to the longitudinal and transverse endless conveyors.

Fig. 10 is a detail view of the worm gearing for operating the hinged section of the transverse conveyor. 5

In-the'drawings in which is illustrated the preferred embodiment of the'invention the road cleaner comprises in its construction a wheeled frame 1 and an adjustable'trame 2;:carrying a longitudinally disposed endless conveyor 3 and a transversely disposed laterally projecting "conveyor 4. The main frame 1 which is provided at its rear end with a platform 5 for the accommodation of the operator is supported by front and rear wheels 6 and 7 mounted on front and rear axles 8 and 9. i The rear axlewhichis .jou'rnalled in suitable bearings-oi the main frame is connected with each of the rear wheels by a suitablefclutch 'mechanism for of clutch illustrated in Fig. 8 a ratchet wheel '10 is keyed or 'otherwisesecured to the rear axle and is engaged by oppositespring actuated pawls ll'mounted 1n the hub or housing 12-of the rear wheel. When the "rear wheel moves forwardly the :;p awls 1 1 will engage the ratchet wheeland lock the rear'wheel-to'tlie'rear axle for rotatingthe latter and when the rear wheel'is rotated rearwardly the pawls will slide or ratchet "overtheteeth otthe ratchet wheel 10 and will not rotate the'rear axle.

The front wheels 6 are loosely j ournalled on the front axle 8 which has clamped to it by suitable clips 13 a bolster 14 arched transversely of the front of the machine and pivotally connected with the front of the main frame by a vertical elongated king bolt 15. The king bolt 15 is mounted in the arched bolster 16 of approximately inverted V-shaped having its terminal portion suitably secured to the front of the frame and supported by inclined braces 17 extending from the lower portion of the sides of the bolster 16 upwardly and rearwardly to the sides of the main frame. The main frame and the bolsters 1 1 and 16 are pierced by the king bolt 15 which also passes through the rear end of a tongue 18 for connecting the machine with a tractor or other means for drawing it along the road operated on. The front axle is adapted to be turned on the king bolt for changing the direction the road cleaner and the lower bolster 1 1 has connected to it the rear end of a horizontal steering frame 19 composed of a central longitudinal frame member 20 and front and rear divergent braces '21 and 22. The frame is provided at the front with a transverse guide 23 composed of spaced upper and lower bars forming a transverse slot or opening through which passes the tongue 18 and the said guide is provided at its ends with upwardly extend ing lugs 24c to which are secured the terminals of a chain 25 having its central portion wound around a longitudinal drum 26 carried by the tongue 18. The drum 26 is mounted in suitable bearing brackets 27 and its rear end is connected by an inclined extensible shaft 28 with an inclined longitudinal shaft 29 extending to the rear portion of the machine and connected with a horizontal operating shaft 30 having a hand wheel 31 and carrying a toothed wheel 32 adapted to be engaged by a slidable spring actuated latch member 33 for holding the operating shaft 30, the drum 26 and the connections between the same against rotary movement. The front inclined extensible shaft 28 is composed of telescoping sections which are connected at their ends by universal joints 3 1- and 35 with the drum 26 and the front end of the inclined longitudinal shaft 29. The latter is connected by a universal joint 36 with the horizontal operating shaft 30. The horizontal operating shaft 30 is journalled in suitable bearings of the main frame and the spring 37 for actuating the latch member is mounted in a suitablebracket 38. The latch. member is provided with a rod connection 39 extending downwardly to a lower guide 40 and passing through the same and provided at its lower end with a horizontal foot receiving portion 11 adapted to be depressed by the foot of the operator for withdrawing the latch from engagement with the toothed wheel 82 when it is desired to operate the steering mechanism for changing the direction of the machine. The hand wheel 31 is adapted to be turned in either direction for producing a corresponding movement of the front axle and a consequent change of the direction of the machine.

The adjustable frame is flexibly connected at its front end with the king bolt 15 by means of a coupling l2 which permits the vertical adjustment of the frame 2. The coupling 12 consists of a front yoke 13 and a rear yoke 14 provided with a longitudinal stem or pivot preferably formed integral with the rear yoke and having its front portion arranged in a bearing opening in the rear portion of the front yoke. The stem or pivot which is horizontal is capable of rotary movement in the bearing of the front yoke and it is provided with a head e6 arranged within the front yoke between the upper and lower sides thereof as clearly illustrated in Fig. 3 of the drawings. The front yoke 46 is composed of upper and lower sides and a rear connecting portion and the king bolt 15 passes through the upper and lower sides. This permits a pivotal movement of the coupling on the vertical king bolt and also a pivotal movement on the horizontal pivot or stem 15 thereby providing a swivel or flexible connection between the front of the adjustable frame and the front of the main frame. This pivotal movement on vertical and horizontal pivots provides for the lateral adj ustment of the frame 2 and a sliding movement of. the yoke 16 upwardly and downwardly on the king bolt provides for the vertical adjustment of the frame 2. The rear yoke 1 1 constitutes a clip and is secured by a bolt -17 to a front transverse bar 18 connecting the sides of the adjustable frame 2 and having attaching portions extending along said sides of the frame 2 as clearly illustrated in Fig. 1 of the drawings.

The adjustable frame 2 is raised and lowered by mechanism located at opposite sides of the machine and inde iendently operable to enable the adjustable frame to be arranged at the desired lateral inclination to suit the angle or inclination of the surface of the road being cleaned and repaired. The adjustable frame is connected at the center of the front and at opposite sides of the rear portion with a front bell-crank lever 19 and rear side bell-crank levers 50 and 51. The front bell-crank lever 19 which is mounted in a suitable bearing 52 consists of a shaft or pivot portion arranged in the said bearing 52 and having upwardly and downwardly extending arms, the downwardly ex tending arms being connected by a rod or link 53 with the yoke 43 of the coupling 42 and when the bell-crank lever 49 is oscillatlll?) "-d the yoke 43 will he caused to slide up 61' detvnitrlrdly oh the king bolt egicerding to the 'tliiectien of the inev'eine'nt jo' f theheIlFQienlKleVer. The adjtifs'tinnt of the lit-dine 2 ei ritiiges the reed eleeni'n'gmee'h 'ztiiisni at the desii'etl lete 'i'el inclinetien end ttls'o IZilSs and lbtver's the meehanisin to enit with the g i'bnnj'd and to lift it Ont offset-11 eng gement, The lOWei' end of the Connecting rod or link is prefeinhly thi'estded and secnred by ntits 54th the upper side of the yoke 43 (is ele'znly shot-1n in Fig. f the drawings and thenpper portioh hf the rod 53 slides through a guide ejpening 55 in the rent portion of the main freine. Theldw'tei" erni (if the hellfcraiik leree is' iiivdte'd t6 the iipper ehd hf therod 532m 56 and the uppe erni (if weenie-e111; leyei' 49 i's pioi ide'd witha slot 57 th rongh which pass s the fi ent eiitl of :t lengi'tndinai warm shaft 58 which is provided its end with A. editable stop The step 59 preferzih'ly in the iforin 6f a heed end is edztpjte'd to retain the front end of the dorm shaft 58 in the slot 157 ofthe npper erih Of the hell-cr'zink level. In "bi-delto eiiehieh the Operating hi'eehnnisin end pte- Vent the same frhin being injured by any acc'ident'ztl npWerd in'ov'eii'ie'nt (if the ditch el'e diiing ihe'ehenishi a 'ceile'd s" 1-ii1 ;,601;; 'a-ii' qhge'cl 0n theft-Ont portion Of the worm shait and is interposed between the tipper ei'inhf the bell-crziiik levei' 49 and an hdjustztble 601151 61 which iierins a stop fOi' the tear end (if the cushioning; spring 60. Any teiitle'n'e'fy "of the front poi'tie'n (if the fr'ziihe to rise by reason of the "ditch cle'zinii'rg' blzlt'de '62 strikihg hard su hetnnce or an o'b'stru'etibn Will he {eushibn'e'd by the coiled spring died injury to the bpere-ting mechanism thereby preventedend the fseid spring Will operate to urge the fi'eht portioh of the adjustable frame 2 deivnwa -rdly' end will euise the seine with the assistance of gravity to resume its normal operative positihn after beingthrewn upward. I

The feel" fp'ortieii of the longitudinal 'vvorih "sheft 5'8 is previ'ded with a wane er thread 63 which is engaged by 'a hand heel 64 having a huh 65 jnrna'll'ed in suitable hem-mg brackets 66 and pYOVl'Cled with an interior thieed en agi g the Worm or thie'ed 0f the shaft '58 and ep'erating as :1 nut for inovii'ig' the shaft- 58 longitudinally when the hand heel 64 is rotated. The bearing brackets '66 are approximately L shap'ed and the hub of the halfd Wheel 64 has reduced tefininal portions which are jeu'rn'ell'ed in suitable b'enl'in-g opeiiin s 'of the seid br'eeket's hnt any other 's'nitahle means may of course be employed fOi' mounting the WOilll' shaft and the operating feel for moving the wot-m 'slfaft loi'igitt'i'diiielly t o' edju s't the frmh 2. The 'woi'nl s'heft is else pr'ovided at it's feet poi-non with a lateral eat-ejection 67 when shift is connected With the fi'o'nt asses thi on'gh a longitiidinal slot- 68 of the npwelftlly extending zii'ni "(if the bell cianlt Upwardly and downwardly extehdingitrnis,

the tiPWkiiCl arhi heingbonnec'ted hfy' the slot and pinjectien with the eiii'i shaft end the ldwer nnn being connected by a sjuiteble ipiv'ot '70 with the upper end of a link '1 which is c'ehneetetl at its lower endto the i'eer pOTtlOll of the fame '2. A slot 72 may he pro ided in the loh er zif'm of the rear bellgerank levers if desired but the pivotal eenneeti'ens of the links 1 and 73 WVill iiable such a slot to he dispensed with. The lower end bf the link 71 is rovided with an eye 74 which is linked into. a suitable perfo; retion "of "a transverse angle 7 5 seeiired to the rear portion Of the idjnstable frame '2 end extendi g across the seine. A slot 5 8 in the upwardly extending arm ef the helleizink lever 51 Will peri'nitth arm to swing in an arc 'Withent aii'e'eting the pivotal "co'nnection between the same 21ml the we'rm shaft which has only a l'dhgitndinel sliding movement. Any suitable meens may be prot ided for aming the loiigittldi'nal worm shift 58 between its ends if desired,

The bell-crank lever 50 is cbns'trne'ted similar to the bell-emu: lever 51 and consists of ajslmft journened in a editable bearin 76 end having up'w'aidly e'ind dewnwa'rdly extending arms, the upwardly extending art'nS bein provided With a longitndiiizil eldt 77 for the rec'p'tiOn 'o'f apin oi ij'rb-jecti'0n78 of arelzttively Short len'git'ndin'al W'i'l'h shaft 7 9 which ebnti'bls the e dji'is'tmeet ef the bell-crank lever 50 and the upward end downward adjustment of the fi ht hand Side of the frame The n oim Shaft 79 is provided his its reel" p'oitibndvith'a we'rm 01' thread 80 which is en egedt'y e bend w en 81. The and hen '81 which is constr cted similar to the bend wheel ifs pibvided with e hi'ih 82 which is joinnelld in suitable bearing brackets 83 nionhted upon the ih'tin f'i'eme et the right hand side thereof as clearly "showi'i in Figure 1 of the drav'vings The hub '81 when he's r e dueed terminil Oreo-11S to fit in the beerlligs 0f the hrzieket's 83 piOVldH with interior iv 01TH thread for I enga ing the thread Worm Of the shaft 79, The Whr'rn ishztfts are heated ht opphsite sides of the heme and the bpe i;etihg hand Wheels 64 and '81 are ai'r'ztng'ed Within easy reach of the op; erz'ttor who-stands upon the reir platform 5.

The said Wprm shifts are capable hf ihde p ende'nt adjti'srnent 'and the right hand 'WOi'in "she-ft coilt'idl's the 'ed-jztcent side (if the ddjus'table heme and is eenheetedonly with the rear perti'dh theiee'f m ne the 1th hind end rear ieo lit

side of the frame. The worm shafts are operated simultaneously to lower the blade 62 to the ground and to raise the same from the ground and there are independently oper ated to adjust the frame and set the blade at the proper lateral inclination to correspond with the surface of the road and the ditch being cleaned. The machine travels along the side of the road with the blade 62 operating in the ditch thereof for cleaning shallow ditches and for removing an 'a'ccumulation of earth and other surface of the road bed washed from the same into the ditches at the sides of the road. The blade 62 which may be constructed of any suitable material, preferably steel is provided at the outer or right hand side with a tapered ex tension 84 which is flanged at the side edge 85 for holding the dirt scraped from the bottom of the ditch and for directing the same upwardly and inwardly to a longitudinally disposed endless carrier 86 which carries the dirt cleaned from the ditch upwardly and rearwardly and deposits the same upon a lateral projecting transversely disposed endless carrier 87 which extends from the left hand side of the machine inwardly over the road and is designed to be of sufficient length to discharge the material onto the ground of the road bed. This will enable the ditches at the side of a road to be easily and quickly cleaned and the road repaired by transferring the dirt from the ditch to the center of the roadway. The adjustable frame is held against lateral movement by an inclined link 88 extending downwardly from the right hand side of the main frame at the rear portion thereof and connected at its upper end to the same and at its lower end to the transverse bar 75. The link 88 is preferably pr vided at its ends with eyes to form a hinged or pivotal connection and it is arranged above the transverse conveyor and is adapted to counteract any tendency of the transverse conveyor causing a shifting of the adjustable frame when the outer portion of the transverse conveyor is elevated as illustrated in Fig. 5 of the drawings. Any number of link connections may be employed and the flexible connections of the same will be such as to not interfere with the vertical and lateral angular adjustment of the frame 2. The inclined longitudinal conveyor is provided with a suitable conveyor frame 89 rigidly hung from the adjustable frame 2 by means of front and rear brackets 90 and 91and provided with front and rear bearings for the reception of front and rear conveyor shafts 92 and 93 having front and rear sprocket wheels 94 and 95 on which are arranged endless sprocket chains 96 located at opposite sides of the endless conveyor and carrying the endless belt or apron 97 thereof. The endless belt or apron is provided with transverse slats 98 and it is supported by a metallic web or plate 99 extending across the conveyor frame and having side flanges 100 which are suitably secured to the sides of the conveyor frame. The slats 98 are suitably connected with the endless chains 96 and they are adapted to hold the material on the apron or belt while the same is traveling upward from the blade to the transverse conveyor. The plate 99 presents a smooth surface to the upward flight of the endless belt or apron and prevents same from sagging under the weight of material carried upward.

The transverse conveyor 87 is mounted in rear hangers 101 located at opposite sides of the rear portion of the adjust-able frame and composed of vertical sides and a con necting bottom portion. The said transverse conveyor is composed of an inner fixed section and an outer hinged adjustable section 102 which is adapted to he raised and iOWQlfitl to arrange it in position for operation and also to swing it upward out of lhe way when the machine is not in oper ation. The relative fixed section 103 of the transverse conveyor is provided with a conveyor frame rigidly secured to the said hangers 101 and supporting inner and outer. transverse shafts 104 and 105. The outer shaft 105 is provided with sprocketwheels 106 for meshing with the sprocket chains 10? of the tr: isverse conveyor 87. The inner shaft 104 is equipped with a smooth roller 108 for guiding the sprocket chains while the same are passing from one section of the transverse conveyor to the other. The transverse conveyor consists of an endless belt or apron 109 extending from the outer end of the relatively fixed section 103 to the outer end of the hinged section 102 and said hinged section is provided at its outer end with suitable bearings for an outer trans: verse shaft- 110 on which are mounted sprocket wheels 111 for the sprocket chains 107. The endless belt or apron 109 is provided with transverse slats 112 which are suitably secured to the links of the endless sprocket chains and the upper flight of the endless belt or apron 109 is supported by transverse plates or webs 113 and 114 pro vided with side flanges 115 and 116 which are suitably secured to the sides of the frames of the sections of the transverse conveyor. The plates or webs 113 and 114 prevent the upper flight of the endless apron from sagging and the said upper flight of the endless apron is guided at the adjacent ends of the sections of the conveyor by means of curved guide members 117 located above the chains and suitably secured to the frame of the fixed section of the transverse conveyor. The guide members are provided with attaching flanges and they present a lower curved surface to the endless belt or apron at the juncture ofthe said sections llU and they are engaged the slats and prevent the upper flight of -the endless belt from lifting and loosening the sprocket chains. In piactice suitable tensioning devices will be employed for tightening the sprocket chains but as any suitable tensioning device may be used a detailed description andillustration of the same is deemed unnecessary. The transverse conveyor which receives. the dirt from the upper end of the longitudi'nal conveyor is adaptedto carry the dirt outwardly and discharge the same at a distance from the side of the main frame and onto the road bed at the center of the same and by this construction the machine is adapted to travel in a ditch at the side of the road bed andclean a shallow ditch and discharge the dirt cleaned from the ditch onto the road at the central portion thereof. 7

The outer section is preferably hinged to the inner section of thetransvers'e conveyor by means of the inner shaft 104 clearly in: dicated in Fig. of the drawings and the outer section is adapted to be raised and lowered. The adjustment of the outer section of the transverse conveyor isaff ected. by means of a drum 118 and a cable 119. or other, suitable flexible action connected. at one end to. the drum and at its other end to a. yoke 120 which straddles the outer pori n o th adj e se t on j t t e rims.- verse conveyor and is pivotally secured to the same. The cable .119 is adapted to be wound around and unwound from the drum 11 8 to raise and lower the hinged oiiter section of the transverse conveyor and this operation is effected by means of worm gearing comprising a relatively short longi tudinal druinf shaft 142 upon which the drum is mounted and which has keyed or herw se secu d to it a, norm e 4 meshing; with a worm 144 of a short transverse worm shaft 145. The longitudinal shaft 142 journaled in snitablebearing brackets 146 secured to the right hand side of the main frame. The transverse worm shaft 145 is mounted in a. suitable bearing bracket 147 and is provided at the outer end with a suitable hand wheel148 In order to provi fo if in f the Outer se none; the transverse conveyor the cablell e is arranged on a guide pulley 141} mounted in a substantially V.-sl1aped bracket 150 secured to and projecting'l ll filallyfrom the hand side of the main frame of the mac we.

the pulley 142 to the yoke 120;and. provides for a more direct upward lift than would be. the case were cabletoextend directly to the, side of theframe. This bracket 15 0 rnay'be f any desired length and is pref.- erably inclined upwardly from the: frame The endless c onveyorsare driven from the The cable 119 extends downwardly from.

rear axle 9 which adapted to be rotated by the rear wheels 7 through the clutch mechanism heretofore described and mount} ed' on the rear aide and slidably connected therewith by means of a key or other suitable connection is a bevel gear 121 wh ch meshes with a bevel pinion mountedhn the rear section 123 of a drive shaft co nposed of the said rear sect on 123 and front section 124 and an inclined intermediate seci tion is connected by universal joints 128 and 129 with the said sections 123 and 12 The universal joints 128 and 129 permit the ros tation of the angularly related section of the drive shaft which accommodates itself to the adjustment of the frame The bevel gear 121 of the rear axle is shifted to move itinto and out of mesh with the bevel pinion 122 by means of a shifting lever 130 fulcrurnedon a suitable bracket 131 and having a forked lower portion 132 which is connected by a slot and pin connection 133 with a collar 134 operating in a groove of the hub of the gear wheel 121, but any other suitable means may of course be eniployed such as an ordinary clutch. for throwing the machine into and out of operation. The front end of the drive shnft carries a compound gear wheel, 13 5l aving spur and bevel gear teeth, the spur teeth meshing with an idler gear 136 I which transmits motion from the bevel, gear to a lower gear wheel mounted on the outer conveyor shaft 105. 'The transverse conveyor isarotated in the proper direction the train of gears connecting the opt-er shaft 105with the drive shaft and the upper flight of the endless apron of the transverse conveyOI? will rnove outwardly when the ma chine moves forwardly. The bevel gear teeth of the compound, gear 135 mesh with the bevel gear wheel 140 mounted on the h er rear'conveyor shaft 93 of the longitudinal conveyor and the said shaft 93 wi l be rota d t more he uppe ligh of the endless apron of the longitudinal conveyor upwardly for carrying the dirt from the ditch to the transverse conveyor. The

' gearing for connecting the drive shaft with the longitudinal and transverse conveyors is designed to be arranged within a suitable ear case 141 to protect the-same.

What claimed is:

1- A' oad e n r comp a" frame, anadjustable frame, means carried b th a u tabl rame or arin a site?! whee ed and for discharging dirt from the ditch to a point beyond the machine, and independent means located at opposite sides of the main frame and connected with the adjustable frame for raising and lowering" the same and for tilting the frame laterally to suit the angle or; inclination of a road bed and a ditch at the side thereof, the raising and lowering means at one side of the main frame being connected with the adjustable frame at the front and back thereof for simultaneously raising and lowering the same. v

2. A, road cleaner of the class described, comprising a wheeled frame, an adjustable frame, means carried by the adjustable frame for cleaning" a ditch at the side of a road and for discharging the material at a point beyond the main frame, front bellcrank lever mounted on the main frame and connected with the front of the adjustable frame, a pair of rear bell-crank levers mounted on the main frame at opposite sides thereof and connected with the rear portion of the adjustable frame at the sides of the same, and independent means for operating the said bell-crank levers'for raising and lowering the adjustable frame and for tilting the same laterally of the main frame, the operating means at one side of the wheeled fran'ie being connected with the front bell-crank lever and with one of the rear bell-crank levers for simultaneously raising and lowering the adjustable frame at that side of the wheeled frame. 7

8; A road cleaner of the class described, comprising a wheeled frame, an adjustable frame, means carried by the adjustable frame for cleaning a ditch at the side of a road and for disc/harp ng the material at a point beyond the main frame, a frontibellcrank lever mounted on the main frame and connected with the front of the adjustable frame, a pair of rear bell-crank levers mounted on the main frame at opposite sides thereof and connected with the rear portion of the adjustable frame at the side of the same, independent oierable means located at opposite sides of the main frame, one of the said means being also connected with the front bell-crank lever, for simulta: neously' raising and lowering the adjustable frame at that side of the main frame one of the rear bell-crank levers and the other of the said means being connected with the other bell-crank lever, said means being operable to raise and lower the adjustable frame and tilt the same laterally of the main frame. I V

4. A road cleaner' of the class described, comprising a wheeled frame. an adjustable frame, means carried by the adjustable frame for cleaning a ditch at the side of a road and for discharging the material at a point beyond the main frame, a front bell-crank lever mounted on the main frame and connected with the front of the adustable framepa pair of rear bell-crank levers mounted on the main frame at opposite sides thereof'and, connected with the rear portion ofthe adjustable frame at the sides of the same, worm shafts located at opposite sides of the main frame, one of the worm shafts being extended to the front of the machine and connected with the front bell-crank lever and with one of the rear bell-crank levers for simultaneously raising and lowering the adjustable frame at that side of the wheeled frame and the other worm shaft being connected with the other rear bellcrank lever, and means for operating the worm shafts for raising and lowering the adjustable frame and for tilting the frame laterally of the main frame.

5. A road cleaner of the class described, comprising a. wheeled frame, an adjustable frame, means carried by the adjust-able frame for cleaning a ditch at the side of a road and for disehargina'lthe material at a point beyond the main frame, a front bellerank lever mounted on the mainframe and connected with the front of the adjustable frame, a I pair of rear bell-crank levers mounted on the main frame at opposite sides thereof and connected with the rear portion of the adjustable frame at the sides of the same, worm shafts located at opposite sides of the main frame and connecting with the rear bell-crank levers, one of the worm shafts being extended to" the front bell-crank lever and connected with the same for simultaneously raising and lowering the adjustable frame at that side of the" main frame. and operating means having worm threadsengaging the worms of the said shafts.

6. A road cleaner of the class described, comprising a wheeled frame. an adjustable frame, means carried by the adjustable frame for cleaning a ditch at the side of a road and for 'dischar ine; the material at a point beyond the main frame, a front bellcrank lever mounted on the main frame and connected with the front of the adjustable frame, a pair of rear bell-crank levers mounted on the main frame at opposite sides thereof and connected with the rear portionof the adjustable frame at the sides of the same, worm shafts mounted on the main frame on opposite sides thereof and connected with the rear bell-crank levers, one of the worm shafts being extended to the front of the frame and having a slidable Connection with the front bell-crank lever for simultaneously raising and lowering the adjustable frame at that side of the wheeled frame, a spring mounted on the extended worm shaft and arranged to cushion the same and the front bell-crank lever, and means for operating the Worm shafts,

7. A road. cleaner including. a wheeled frame, an adjustableframe provided. with means for cleaning. a ditch at the side of a road and for discharging. the dirt at a point beyond the wheeled frame, a frontbellscrank lever, a pair of rear bell-crank levers, said bell crank levers being mounted on. the wheeled frame, links connecting one arm of the bell-crank levers with the adjustable frame, independent sets of worm gearing connected with the. other arm of the bellcrank levers for adjusting the same, one of the sets of worm gearing being connected with the front bell-crank lever and with one of the rear bell-crank levers for simultaneously raising and lowering the adjustable frame at that side of the wheeled frame, and means for cushioning the. front bell-crank lever and the worm gearing and connected therewith.

8. A road cleaner including, a wheeled frame having a front truck provided with an extended king bolt, an adjustable frame slidably connected at its. front end with the king bolt, means carried by the frame for cleaning a ditch and for conveying the earth from the ditch to a point beyond the wheeled frame, front and rear bell-crank levers connected with the adjustable frame for raising and lowering the same and for tilting the adjustable frame laterally, and independent operating mechanism for each side of the wheeled frame for swinging the bellcrank levers and for securing the same in their adjustment, one operating mechanism being connected with the front bell crank lever and one of the rear bell-crank levers for raising and lowering the adjustable frame at one side of the wheeled frame.

9. A road cleaner including a wheeled frame having a front truck provided with an extended king bolt, an adjustable frame provided at the front end with a coupling having a swiveled member slidable upwardly and downwardly on the king bolt, an independently operable means site sides of the wheeled with an adjustable frame at the center of the front and at opposite sides of the rear portion thereof for raising and lowering the adjustable frame and for tilting the same laterally, the operating means at one side of the machine being connected with the adjustableframe at the front and back thereof for raising and lowering the same simultaneously and the operating mechanism at the other side of the machine being only connected with the rear of the adjustable frame and excavating and conveying means carried by the adjustable frame.

10. A road cleaner including a wheeled frame having a front truck and provided with an extending king bolt, an adjustable frame having a swiveled member slidable upwardly and downwardly on the king bolt,

located at oppoframe connected a. rod; connected with theswiveled; member, means connected. with the. rod for. raising. and lowering the front of the adjustable frame, means connected with. the rear of. the adj ustableframe for raising and lowering. the same, said: means being provided. at one side of the wheeled rame with the front and back of the adjustable frame for raising and lowering the, saine simultaneously. and at the other sideof' thewheeledfr ame with the rear only of the adjustable frame for inde: pendent operation, and excavating and: conveying means carriedby the wheeled frame.

11. A road cleaner includinga wheeled frame having a. front truck and proriid ed with an extended kingbolt, said front truck being also provided with; a forwardly ex tending. frame, an adj ustable frameslidably and pivotally connected at thefront. with the king. bolt, independently operable means located; at opposite. sides of the. wheeled frame. and connected; with the adjustable frame. for raising and lowering thesame and for tilting the same under thev adjustable frame laterally, one of the operating means being connected with the adjustable frame at the front and back thereof for raising the same simultaneously and the other operating means being connected with the adjustable frame only at the rear portion thereof for independent operation, and steering means located between the said frame adjusting means and connected with the frame of the front truck. I i

12. A wheeled frame provided with arear platform and having a front truck, an adjustable frame, means located at opposite sides of the wheeled frame and connected with the adjustable frame for raising and lowering the same, the operating means at one side of the wheeled frame being connected with the adjustable frame at the front and back thereof and the operating means at the other side of the frame being connected with the adjustable frame only at the rear portion thereof for independent operation, said means having operating devices located adjacent to the platform and centrally arranged steering mechanism having a longitudinal steering shaft provided adjacent to the platform with an operating device and extending to the front portion of the machine, said steering mechanism being connected with the front truck for turning the same.

13. A road cleaner including a wheeled frame, an adjustable frame, means for raising and lowering the same including a worm shaft extending along the wheeled frame at one side thereof, a longitudinal conveyor carried by the adjustable frame and having a front blade, a transverse conveyor also carried by the adjustable frame and having a hinged outer section arranged to swing upwardly and downwardly, an operating &

mechanism for raising and lowering the outer section of the transverse conveyor provided With a drum mounted on the Worm shaft and having a flexible connection connected With the said hinged section.

14. A road cleaner including a Wheeled frame, an adjustable frame, means carried by the wheeled frame for raising and lowering the adjustable frame, a longitudinal conveyor carried by the adjustable frame and having a blade for cleaning a ditch, a transverse conveyor also mounted on the adjustable frame and composed of inner and outer sections, the outer section being hinged, said transverse conveyor having an endless apron extending substantially the entire length of the said sections and composed of upper and loWer flights, and a rotary element located at the adjacent ends of the sections for guiding the lower flight of the apron, and curved guides also located at adjacent end of the sections and arranged above the upper flight of the apron for guiding the latter.

15. A road cleaner including a Wheeled frame having front and rear Wheels, an adjustable frame, means carried by the Wheeled frame for raising and lowering the adjustable frame and for tilting the same laterally, a longitudinal conveyor carried by the adjustable frame and having a blade at the front end, a transverse conveyor located at the rear end of the longitudinal conveyor and projecting laterally from the Wheeled frame, gearing for transmitting motion from the rear axle to the said conveyors including a longitudinal drive shaft having front and rear substantially horizontal sections journalled respectively on the adjustable frame and the Wheeled frame'and an intermediate extensible section composed of telescoping sections and connected at its ends by universal joints With the front and rear sections. A r

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

ANDREW O. ANDERSON. 

